The Chicago City Council today approved the use of Open Space Impact Fees (OSIF) to create a new pedestrian trail and enable a pair of outdoor school improvement projects on the North Side.

The Low-Line Pedestrian Trail
The development of the Low-Line, a half-mile long walkway and garden beneath the CTA Brown Line tracks in Lakeview, will be supported with $100,000 in OSIF. The funds will be used for the installation of pedestrian walkways, landscaping, and other public amenities between Southport Avenue and Paulina Street. The space will include landscaping, art panels, an interactive light installation, seating, and fencing. The path will connect the neighborhood business districts and include new plazas and greenspace for event programming and art installations. The balance of the $228,000 project will be paid by $115,000 in 47th Ward aldermanic funds, and $13,300 from community fundraising proceeds. The project’s first phase included the installation of plazas at Southport and Paulina in 2018. The space will be maintained by the non-profit Friends of Lakeview.

LaSalle Language Academy, 1734 N Orleans St.
LaSalle Language Academy in Lincoln Park will receive $40,000 in OSIF for the installation of waterlines for the newly built athletic field and a public drinking fountain on the school grounds. Previous investments at LaSalle included $750,000 in OSIF for the replacement of an asphalt schoolyard with a new a multi-use artificial turf field and playground.

Friedrich L. Jahn Elementary School, 3149 N. Wolcott Ave.
Friedrich L. Jahn Elementary School in North Center will receive $475,000 in OSIF for costs associated with the planning, design and construction of a new, 6,000- square-foot artificial turf athletic field, a new asphalt paved basketball court, and running track for use by students and area residents. The project will involve the removal of pavement, installation of a drainage system, flagpole, benches, and sidewalk replacement. The work will be entirely funded by the OSIF.

The OSIF program collects fees associated with the construction of new residential developments to help expand the amount of open space in each of Chicago’s community areas.

# # #